Cello trio Melo-M emerged in 2005 when academically trained musicians Karlis Auzans, Valters Puce and Antons Trocuks decided to unite their musical talents and create a band.
 
Melo-M play cello versions of variety of well-known music: from classical to ethno, pop and rock.
 
The trio released three LPs so far: self-entitled Melo-M album (2005) consisting of cello covers of popular Latvian songs, Singalongs (2007) with their interpretations of world’s modern classics and Around The World (2009) – an album of ethno and world music melodies covered by the band. All three albums were entirely produced by founder of Melo-M Karlis Auzans.
 
Melo-M are also well-known outside Latvia. Throughout five years of their musical career the band toured in USA twice, played a variety of concerts in Russia, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, Turkey and elsewhere.
 
Melo-M shared the stage with such artists as: vocalist of Boney M Maizie Williams, Swedish multi-instrumentalist Robert Wells, Finnish metal band Apocalyptica, popular Latvia-born singer Laima Vaikule, legendary composer Raimonds Pauls and many more.
 
The band has a rich experience in classical music: they played a number of concerts with symphonic orchestras and collaborated with famous Latvian dance ensemble Dzirnas while working on modern theatre play called Apstājies! Classical concerts of Melo-M often include soprano singer Sonora Vaici.
 
In 2009 Canadian skater Jeremy Ten included Melo-M cover of The Beatles song Come Together in his skating program.
 
Melo - M are laureates of first Terem Crossover Competition (bronze medal) in 2010 St.Petersburg, Russia.
 
Every band member has a significant academic music background. Each of the three played at international contests and performed with orchestras at notable symphonic music concerts. Melo-M members have strengthened their academic education by learning from such world-class cello players as: Mstislav Rostropovich, Klauss Kangiser, Misha Maiski, Frans Helmerson, Maksim Utkin and Natalia Shovskaya.
 
Uniqueness of Melo-M performances lies in their ability to combine foundations of the classical music with energy and drive of pop and rock shows.

 

 

 

Melo-M band member Kārlis Auzāns


 

Founder of the band, art director and producer. Karlis has a rich 15-years long experience in classical, pop and rock music alike.

 
Karlis conducted all concert program of Melo-M and arranged all of their music. He also wrote many original compositions of Melo-M and worked as a sound engineer while recording their albums.
 
Karlis granted a cellist master degree at Latvian Music Academy and another master in media management at Latvian Culture Academy and Hamburg High School of Culture and Theatre. Karlis took private lessons with professor Klaus Kangiser of Koln High School.
 
During his career a solo cellist Karlis was awarded with variety of prizes of international contests. He played cello solo with such orchestras as: Presburger Kamerphilarmonie (at their concerts in Sweden and Germany), Latvian National Symphonic Orchestra, Liepaja Symphonic Orchestra, Riga Chamber Orchestra and with string quartet Riga Viva in Copenhagen.
 
Karlis wrote music for musical play Apstājies! that was staged by dance ensemble Dzirnas. In 2009 Karlis Auzans received an award of Lielais Kristaps film festival for his music for Andis Mizins’ film Medības.
 
Alongside Melo-M Auzans also works as a music producer. He produced the album Mana Dziesma Latvija (2008) that consisted of traditional Latvian folk songs sang by contemporary artists, honoring the 90-year anniversary of proclamation of Latvian Republic. Karlis worked in the theatre as well. He played music for the play called Dracula.Other’s blood. that was staged in Dailes theatre. Karlis Auzans participated in many other projects that were as well popular in Latvia. Since 1999 he plays in a rock band called Autobuss Debesīs.

 

 

 

Melo-M band member Valters Pūce


 

Valters Puce graduated from music school of Emils Darzins, studied in music academy of Jazep Vitols, in the cello class of Eleonora Testelca at Latvian music academy and also at High School of Music and Arts with professor Piter Brun.

 
Valter received many awards of international contests and festivals. Amongst them are: Concertino Prague, International contest of cellists of August Dombrovskis and Music World 2000 Festival Internazionale Fivizzano. As a solo cellist Valters played not only in Latvia but also in Sweden, Germany, Chezh Republic and Denmark.
 
He was perfecting his mastery with such world-class cello players as: Franz Helmerson, Misha Maiski, Maksim Utkin, Bernard Greenhous and Tilman Vik.
 
Beside Melo-M Valter took part in other music projects. He collaborated with a band called Shin that plays Georgian ethno-jazz music and also played with Normund Shne and Sinfonietta Rīgachamber orchestra.

 

 

 Melo-M band member Antons Trocjuks

  
 

He studied at the music school of Emils Darzins and then at the music college of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in St.Petersburg.

 
Anton owns many prestigious awards of such cellists’ contests as: Talants Latvijai, contest of Igor Marvinski in St.Petersburg, contest of young cellists J.F. Docauer in Germany, Karl Davidov contest in Latvia, international contest Virtuosos of XXI century in Moscow, International Music Tournament in Germany and also Competition For Musicians Of All Instruments in Italy. Anton continued his cello studies with Mstislav Rostropovich and Natalia Shovskaya.